The patient tells the nurse, "My doctor says I have atrial fibrillation. Is this serious and how is it treated?" What are the best responses by the nurse?
1. "This condition is best treated with what we call antidysrhythmic drugs."
2. "This is very common; your doctor will discuss the best treatment with you."
3. "Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may use an electrical shock."
4. "This is quite serious; did your doctor mention a heart transplant?"
5. "It is very serious, even more serious than a ventricular dysrhythmia."
2,3
Rationale 1: Medications can cause serious side effects and are normally reserved for patients with overt symptoms or for patients whose condition cannot be controlled by other means.
Rationale 2: Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of dysrhythmia. The physician will determine treatment.
Rationale 3: The physician will determine whether to use nonpharmacologic techniques, such as cardioversion, or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
Rationale 4: Heart transplants are not indicated for patients with dysrhythmias.
Rationale 5: Ventricular dysrhythmias are more serious than atrial dysrhythmias because they are more likely to interfere with the normal function of the heart.
Global Rationale: Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of dysrhythmia. The physician will determine whether to use nonpharmacologic techniques, such as cardioversion, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), or medication. Medications can cause serious side effects and are normally reserved for patients with overt symptoms or for patients whose condition cannot be controlled by other means. Ventricular dysrhythmias are more serious than atrial dysrhythmias because they are more likely to interfere with the normal function of the heart. Heart transplants are not indicated for patients with dysrhythmias.
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